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Definition of boomtown

boomtown

/ˈbuːmˌtaʊn/
boom · town
Plural:boomtowns
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boomtown Lexical Profile

boomtown Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A town or city undergoing sudden and rapid population and economic growth, often due to the discovery of a valuable natural resource such as gold, silver, or oil, or the emergence of a thriving new industry.

Example

"Following the discovery of extensive shale oil reserves, the quiet farming community quickly transformed into a bustling boomtown."

Antonyms
View all antonyms for boomtown

• Nearby Words

boomerang
booming
boomslang
boomtown
boon
boondock
boondocks

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in American English in the late 19th century by combining 'boom' (in the economic sense of a sudden surge in activity) and 'town', originally describing frontier settlements that sprang up overnight around gold, silver, or oil discoveries.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Boomtown. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/boomtown
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